As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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Spring is a natural time to think about water conservation since we’re transitioning to the long dry season, with heavy use of outdoor irrigation, and rising water bills.
Most of us have heard warnings of potential water shortages in the future, especially in Southern California, and thus think of water as a resource that should be conserved, but few are aware of how much energy is used to provide water. California was among the first states to take a close look at the relationship between water and energy and discovered that “water-related energy use consumes 19 percent of the state’s electricity, 30 percent of its natural gas, and 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel every year – and this demand is growing.” Believe it or not, on average, 75 percent of the cost of municipal water comes from the electricity used to capture, treat, distribute, and use the water. After the water is used, more energy is required to treat the wastewater.
Now for the good news. For every gallon of water not used, we conserve water and energy and reduce emissions as well. And fortunately there are literally 100+ easy, low-cost solutions for conserving water. Here’s a short list to get you started.
Check for leaks – This is a no-brainer. A faucet leaking a slow steady drip (around 100 drops per minute) wastes 350 gallons per month. Check faucets, water using appliances and devices, toilets (tank leaking into bowl), your irrigation system, and anything else that uses water.
Update the settings on your irrigation controller – Contrary to our fears of parched plants, more plants die from over-watering than under-watering. In the Spring and Fall when it’s cooler and days are shorter, you don’t need to water as frequently or as long as in the middle of summer. Most water is wasted in months prior to or just after the rainy season when intermittent rains occur. Adjust appropriately. Or if that’s too much work be the first on your block to get an automated weather-based irrigation controller and get a rebate from EBMUD.
Get a free conservation kit from EBMUD – If you complete an audit or stop by the Water Conservation Division in Oakland, you can obtain a free water conservation kit from EBMUD that includes: water conserving showerhead, kitchen faucet aerator, bathroom faucet aerator, outdoor nozzle, and a toilet tank bag.
Upgrade an old toilet or washing machine and get a rebate – Toilets are the largest water user in the home. Each day, the U.S. uses an amazing 5.8 billion gallons of fresh water to flush waste. Old toilets use 3.5 gallons per flush and new high-efficiency models use 1.6 gallons or less. Clothes washers are the second largest water user in the home. A new high-efficiency model uses 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load.
Plant native plants and trees that don’t need irrigation – If you’re doing any landscaping consider using native plants and trees that don’t require any irrigation. Since they’re native to the area, they can do just fine on their own. The new buzzword is Xeriscape – a combination of seven common-sense gardening principles that save water while creating a lush and colorful landscape.
A hundred little things around the house – There are so many little ways to conserve water it can make you dizzy! There is a great list of over 100 water-saving tips at www.wateruseitwisely.com. Everything from taking shorter showers to putting tissues in the trash (instead of the toilet), sweeping instead of hosing off a driveway or patio, and using more mulch around the yard.
More Resources
EBMUD – WaterSmart Residential Conservation Web Site:
http://www.ebmud.com/conserving_&_recycling/residential/
H2OUSE – Water Saver Home – Tour a virtual home to investigate water saving opportunities in each area of your home.
http://www.h2ouse.org/
To read success stories about how others in the community are conserving water and energy, visit the Sustainable Lafayette web site (www.sustainablelafayette.net).
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